21 January 2020

Scattershots – 21jan20 (updated 27jan20)

George Rebane

RL Crabb is prominent in today’s (21jan20) Unionlambasting AB5, the latest socialist outrage from Sacramento. (more here) This piece of dreadful anti-work legislation has finally caught enough of our liberal artsy-fartsy crowd to also get them squawking – less known, AB5 impacts at least as many of California's high-tech STEM consultants and freelancers. Our cartoonist friend Bob Crabb’s distress (here) puts paid on what most of us have known about his true ideological colors – for shur he ain’t no middle-roader. Regardless of his ire against the state’s Democrats – it’s akin to my ire against the state’s Republicans, but I don’t pretend to be a mid-roader – he cannot countenance the other side, even in the face of AB5. “I also do not agree with those who want to steer clear of partisan politics. This bill is 100% Democrat. It was written by an assemblywoman who curses like a sailor and dismisses us as whiners who are too dense to understand how fortunate we are to have her party looking out for our well-being. It passed on a straight party line vote. It was signed by a governor who just dedicated millions of dollars to enforcing it. California Democrats believe they have little to fear from the riffraff at the bottom tier of workers. We are, after all, musicians, journalists, community theaters, and cartoonists. What are we going to do? Vote for Republicans? Ha ha ha!” As you can see, regardless of the years of collectivist crap flowing from our Democrat legislature, Bob would not change his vote to give us bottom tier riffraff a chance to sell our services as we choose – a few eggs have yet to be cracked and sacrifices have to be made.

California leavin’should be the title of a new musical lament for all those folks heading out of state. But there’s enough of us disgruntled Golden Staters to take and remake the places where we land and put down new stakes. An example is Star, Idaho, a small town near where one of our dear departed California expats and RR readers now lives. Star’s population has more than doubled in the last ten years as couples like JT and Mary Jo Turnipseed (their real name, honest!) left SoCal and moved in to experience small town living at its best. Well, no more. “Now Star is grappling with some of the same problems the Turnipseeds left California to escape. The town’s main drag, where ranchers once drove their cattle, is clogged with traffic during rush-hour commutes. Sprawling subdivisions have sprouted up around farmland, as have new chain stores. The median home price has more than doubled to nearly $400,000 since 2010.” (more here) The most amazing thing to me is still the utter blindness of our states overwhelming population of leftwing loonies who deny that any of this exodus is going on. It mirrors exactly their grossly distorted perception of the realworld which is their daily drink from the lamestream. For them, another sip of that Kool-Aid, and all’s right with the world.

[22jan20 update] Today at lunch with a longtime friend of, shall we say, a different socio-political persuasion, we discussed the “overwhelming” evidence which the Dems proclaimed to the nation in support of their case to convict President Trump of ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’, and get him out of 1600 Pennsylvania before he trounces them at the polls this November. My friend strongly argued the prosecution’s call for additional witnesses and documents, with which to catalyze the evidence developed during the weeks of House impeachment hearings that, it now appears, did not overwhelm anyone and will not overwhelm anyone in the Senate chamber. The Dems’ evidence is essentially limp and ludicrous on arrival, and needs at least another fishing expedition launched to prop it up and give it some, any, substance before the president is summarily acquitted. But calling for witnesses is really a bluff by the Dems on which Majority Leader McConnell may well call Team Nancy and lead to a sanitary problem in multiple shorts. My prognosis is that the Dems will do nothing which results in any Biden taking the witness stand, let alone requiring Mr Lead Prosecutor Adam Schiff to also raise his hand and swear to tell the truth for a change.

[23jan20 update] The unmitigated hatred of Trump by our Left is on full display in ‘Time for Trump to go’ by local leftwinger Nancy Eubanks in the 23jan20 Union. There the newspaper gives the lady the entire prime-spot left panel to lambaste the president. And she does not hold back, spewing unsupported allegation after allegation and obvious lie after lie, all the while calling Trump the nation’s consummate liar whose lies average “over 10 times every day according to several nonpartisan fact checkers.” Has anyone ever asked how many lies about Trump come out daily from Team Nancy, the multitude of lamestream news outlets, the countless campuses across the country, the Dems’ impeachment brigade (Schiff’s speech yesterday on the Senate floor was a doozy - more here), and the entertainment media’s daily dose of films and TV programs??

[24jan20 update] Irrefutable proof that stupid is contagious. The Dems are proposing to make California’s horrendously stupid AB5 the law of the land. This proposal has now been endorsed by their top presidential candidates Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Pete Buttigieg. Talk about a slate of ignorant?cynical anti-Americans wanting to become chief executive – they are all extreme leftwingers. Today this law is causing chaos in the state’s employment markets, and is even being opposed by liberals whose jobs are in peril or already history. In desperation the Sacramento stupidos are trying to do a workaround with a growing pile of special interest carve-outs before they accelerate California’s calamitous worker exodus, indigent immigrations, shrinking tax base, economic contraction, and most importantly, voter defections. (more here and here) Perhaps the passage of such destructive legislation, that is finally a shot into our socialists’ shorts, will help Republicans to launch a resurgence of sanity in California.

[27jan20 update] That Democrats are now the anti-American party is confirmed by three things which uniquely identify them – 1) ALL of them are willing to risk the US economy through massive tax increases to buy votes needed to stay in power through directed wealth redistribution – moderate Democrats are a myth, 2) NONE of them have any social policies save to remove President Trump from office before the November election (H/T to reader who posted the latest VDH piece on the topic), 3) ALL are globalists first, prepared and pursuing means to reduce US sovereignty and hegemony in favor of submitting to globalist organizations in economics, trade, governance, and world order.

Comments

Great read, but rather long. 2nd half is good.

Whistleblower Was Overheard in '17 Discussing With Ally How to Remove Trump

“The whistleblower made statements to the inspector general under the penalty of perjury that were not true or correct,” said Rep. John Ratcliffe, a Republican member of the House Intelligence Committee.......

He says the truth about what happened is documented on pages 53-73 of the transcript of Atkinson’s eight-hour testimony. Except that Schiff refuses to release it.

“The transcript is classified ‘Secret’ so Schiff can prevent you from seeing the answers to my questions,” Ratcliffe told RCI.

Atkinson replaced Charles McCullough as the intelligence community’s IG. McCullough is now a partner in the same law firm for which Bakaj and Zaid work. McCullough formerly reported directly to Obama’s National Intelligence Director, James Clapper, one of Trump’s biggest critics in the intelligence community and a regular agitator for his impeachment on CNN.

Hidden Political Agenda?

Atkinson also repeatedly refused to answer Senate Intelligence Committee questions about the political bias of the whistleblower. Republican members of the panel called his Sept. 26 testimony “evasive.” Senate investigators say they are seeking all records generated from Atkinson’s “preliminary review” of the whistleblower’s complaint, including evidence and “indicia” of the whistleblower’s “political bias” in favor of Biden.

Mary McCord: The Justice Department official worked with inspector general Atkinson during the Trump-Russia probe and now works with Democrats on the impeachment case.

Republicans point out that Atkinson was the top national security lawyer in the Obama Justice Department when it was investigating Trump campaign aides and Trump himself in 2016 and 2017. He worked closely with Laufman, the department’s former counterintelligence section chief who’s now aligned with the whistleblower’s attorneys. Also, Atkinson served as senior counsel to Mary McCord, the senior Justice official appointed by Obama who helped oversee the FBI’s Russia “collusion” probe, and who personally pressured the White House to fire then National Security Adviser Flynn. She and Atkinson worked together on the Russia case. Closing the circle tighter, McCord was Laufman’s boss at Justice.

As it happens, all three are now involved in the whistleblower case or the impeachment process.”

Many believe that the Democrats’ impeachment frenzy will boomerang against them. I am not confident of that, but I am certain that the Democrats have succeeded in unifying and motivating Republicans beyond anything we could have foreseen four years ago.“

That "opinion" holds plenty more water than yours Emery.
But feel free to prove it wrong.(good bloody luck)
So far it's "ME WIN". Oh... Still not impeachable. NOT in the impeachment papers. so,,,, tough shit.

What? not defending your boy "O" and his seven counts of breaking your beloved law? It must have been OK when he did it.Right Emery?
OK,,, It's your turn to respond with the predictable lame ass excuse.

So Emery,, "O" broke the law... Didn't he??? Come on.. you can admit it here. You only voted for him once,,, or so you say.
So "O" is seven to Trump's one. So nothing to say on the matter? Make your opinion count for once.

odlaW 1153am - You missed it again. My 1142am request was for you to address your party leaders' endorsement of a nationwide AB5. What is your assessment of such an endorsement, and its potential impact on their election chances should one of them get the nomination?

So far as I can tell AB5 was written for folks like Uber drivers who wanted more benefits than what they could get as freelancers...

But AB5 was not well thought out, poorly written and is causing all kinds of problems...

Much of political campaigning is about jumping on the cause du jour bandwagons. I have not paid much attention to nationwide AB5 discussions.
I think it goes along with the whole Unionize...collective bargaining notion so the likes of Lizzy and Bernie would jump on that bandwagon...not sure who else...

I would not want to see any other similar laws go into effect that did not address the problems for small time independents that would make it harder for them to be able to help make ends meet through gigs, side hustles, etc.

That right. Blame the "gig" worker Dougy. Not the greedy ass politician looking to tax anyone with a pulse. You just cast the blame(via wide paint brush) on your pals Emery and Crabb.
Gotta ram them into "uncovered" Ca. too. But yes, gotta get the unions fresh people to extort as well.

Really? Talk to Emery and Crabb.
You would never follow it anyway. You know,, laws like that don't apply to you. Remember your bragging about how no need to register your orange tractor with CARB? or your piss poor math skills where the need for a contractor's licence didn't apply to you?
Sure Dougy.. Whatever you say.

odd-law 2:26 - "So far as I can tell AB5 was written for folks like Uber drivers who wanted more benefits than what they could get as freelancers...
BS - If Uber drivers wanted wanted more benies, why didn't they get a job with benies?

But AB5 was not well thought out, poorly written and is causing all kinds of problems..."
Well- that would be the Democrats. They seem to be pretty good at that. And Oddy wants to vote for one for POTUS.
The Dems wanted to try to rope more folks into more taxes and maybe more unionized workers. That's why they came up with a this idiot law.

Since Ren and Stimpy opened the door to the dirty Bidens
look at the fun when a vote is called just to have his ass dragged in for questioning. But the ones LIBS want,,, well,, tough shit. (Trump throws the exec. privilege card.)
Can you see Nadless Nadler scoot across the floor like a dog with worms? Ya.. That kind of buttsore.

odd-law is really outlaw. "They are whining about Democrats but not providing new evidence...because Trump has all the docs..."
The defense doesn't have to provide anything. It's up to the prosecution to prove their case. If they don't have any evidence, they don't have a case.
odd-law is the one whining.
Sorry, odd-law - but you'll get your chance to vote for your choice of liar pretty soon. Be sure to keep us up to date!

oddy can't read - "Let’s hear it from Scotto... what was the evolution of AB5???"
Go back and read my post at 6:08.
and
"I did not say that it was the right thing for them to do."
When did I indicate what you thought about it being right or wrong in the first place?
Heck - I even agreed with you that it was a crappy law.
Try to calm down, dude.

Scotto: "But AB5 was not well thought out, poorly written and is causing all kinds of problems..."
Well- that would be the Democrats. They seem to be pretty good at that. And Oddy wants to vote for one for POTUS."

It seems to me that nearly all laws are not well thought out, the law of unintended consequences kicks in and that's that.

The problem is that liberals think of laws (or regulations) first when attempting to solve a perceived problem. Fast forward the years since the early part of the 20th C. and you end up with a tumor-sized mass of unintended consequences. The thing is, being a legislator is like being a company executive making ill-advised acquisitions, wrangling up a bunch of new regs is fun.

It would be funny to see all new corporations find a likely fellow, let's say Colin Powell or Morgan Freeman, and use him on every single board. It would be tough to pull off, but amusing.

As an aside, from the introduction to the second edition of Brave New World (1946).

"A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slave who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude. To make them love it is the task assigned, in present-day totalitarian states, to ministries of propaganda, newspaper editors, and school teachers."

I'd say that the social media companies make pretty good ministries of propaganda. That Huxley knew what he was about.

It appears that the President’s defense team has blown the Dems’ impeachment case out of the water by simply presenting testimony videos that strongly contradict the cherry picked ‘evidence’ that Team Schiff has presented. The prosecution has demonstrated itself to be lying sacks of shit, and this from only the first couple of hours. Bottom line, these guys are really bad in so many ways beyond having presented a collapsed process and a shell-game of a case, they simply are bad for America.

scenes 8:48 - from the article:
"“Starting on July 1st in the U.S. and Europe, we’re not going to take a company public unless there's at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women,” Solomon told CNBC Thursday. He didn't mention Asia, which continues to lag behind other regions when it comes to board diversity."
Looks like virtue signalling has it's limits.
Why aren't Asian countries included?

comma-man : "Trump asked for a favor of digging up dirt on a political opponent during the run up to a Presidential election...not allowed"

lol. How do you figure? Short version: Trump reminds Zelenskyy that Biden bragged about having a Ukrainian prosecutor fired, could he look into it?

Are you a child? That's the weakest excuse for a successful impeachment I could imagine. A good rule of thumb is that any impeachment votes that fall on pure party lines are purest BS, it's just an attempt to run a parliamentary system in the US.

Just imagine pinning a microphone to all prior Presidents and their factotums like a James Baker or Kissinger. Can you imagine the crimes that would be unearthed?

It's so painfully obvious that this whole deal is just a measured tactic in the 2020 election. I'm mostly just bored with it. Get the inevitable vote over, put the fidget spinners down, get back to approving judges.

My favorite part about the God-Emperor's reign is that practically all of his 'crimes' involve the methodology in which a bonafide Democratic party evil-doing is unearthed. Just think back. He's a bull in a china shop, and the china shop sorely deserves being torn apart.

Axelrod said, “I was in a focus group this morning for the Institute of Politics here at the University of Chicago with some Chicago Democratic voters, and it was chilling to hear them talk about this. Because impeachment didn’t even come up, no one volunteered it for 80 minutes into the focus group, and we’re right in the middle of the trial.”

He continued, “When it came up, they said, you know, it’s terrible what he did, the case has been proven, but we know how it’s going to turn out. So, we’re not really that interested. We’re ready to move on. And I think that’s what Mitch McConnell and the president and the White House are banking on, that they can take the hit here, buffalo their way through this and that the public will move on. And it’s a cynical calculation, but it might not be the wrong calculation.”
(h/t The Hill)

Can't wait for the house to write a bill stating quid pro quos illegal, and a crime punishable by death.
Well. THEY would be some of the first to be shot at sunrise.
(That's everyday politics.)
Someone explain that to Dung.

Just thinking out loud, I wonder how the Trump administration's experiences will change future Presidencies in terms of security.

A combination of Deep State surveillance, stay-behind partisans, opposition party leaks...all of these often flat illegal if not immoral...have made this the most transparent modern administration.

So what is the side effect? An increased tolerance by the hoi polloi for how the sausage is actually made? bad-ass internal affairs organizations? firing of the top 10,000 executive branch employees right after the election? down-to-the-bone minimization of contacts with the opposition party? Some combination?

People don't think much about the results of unsuccessful coups. Those are probably the more interesting ones.

Well, Quid pro Quo is not included in the Articles of Impeachment. The trail is about what is IN the Articles of Impeachment. Bribery is not, Crowdstrike. is not, extortion is not, firing an ambassador is not.....

Focus, Dems, focus.
————————————-
Quote of the Day yesterday. What the Democrats call ‘Obstruction of Congress’ is known as Separation of Powers.” —one of those Republican House members on the management team

,,,Biden was on a board of directors!!!
,,,Biden was on a board of directors!!!
,,,Biden was on a board of directors!!!...and was well paid

Let's find out how many former Congress members served on boards.

How expert were these Congressmen in the businesses and products of the companies they were directors of???

'''In an election year dominated by populist outsiders, politicians are learning that cozy relationships with corporate America can be a liability.

Take former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, a Democrat from Indiana, whose campaign to regain his old seat has been impeded by the $3.8 million he made serving on four corporate boards after he left the Senate. Bayh’s early lead in the race has evaporated as well-funded conservative groups have spent millions in ads attacking him as a creature of Washington beholden to special interests. His role as a director of one of the banks that got taxpayer money during the 2008 financial crisis has drawn criticism because he voted in favor of the federal aid.

And yet “director” is a popular and lucrative job title for many former members of Congress. Last year, the 64 one-time lawmakers who sat on boards pulled down an average $357,182, twice what they earned when taxpayers paid their salaries, according to data compiled by Bloomberg of former members of Congress who served on Russell 3000 company boards in 2015.'''

Duugy.. I hear AMTRAK has an opening on it's board of directors. Go apply. Who the hell needs experience these days?
Just tell them your a Proggy stooge. That should do it.. Oh.. wait a minute. You have no family way up in government to grease the tracks to money depot. Maybe Emery could help with a hemp shipping contract.
Naaa.. Anyone with no experience can score a six figure a month gig like that in a corrupt corporation.

I see Dung didn't watch the House inquisitions.
Just when did Repubs get to call witnesses? You know,, the ones only approved by Schifflis? How bout the ones in Nadless's kangaroo court? "Witnesses can be called AFTER the verdict".

Interesting that our libs can't parse the difference between ex-congresscritters serving on American company boards, and Hunter serving on the Burisma board for big bucks while daddy was VP and constructively fired (for quid pro quo) Ukraine's govt prosecutor investigating Burisma for its well-known corruption. That deficit is well represented in Team Nancy's efforts to keep Trump off the November ballot. Talk about a blatant conspiracy all in the name of 'saving our democracy' - an historical crock indeed.

Kinda interesting how patient we on the right have been during this whole Dem debacle. The House called all the shots for 78 days and on Day 71, they invite Trump to come on down to prove his innocence, lol.

Then we (and the Senate) patiently suffered through 24 long hours as the Dem management team made its case to the Senate and the ‘American’ people.

So, after 78 days of the House Dems pontificating and calling the shots followed by a week in the Senate putting everyone to sleep, finally...finally the defense is allowed to put forth their case for three hours and the Unhinged flip out, ROFLMAO.

See ya Monday morning all bright and bushy tailed.

Just because the Dems say it does not make it true. But, we all knew that long ago.

,,,yes Bill,,, waiting for the witnesses Trump has hidden away to testify...Waiting for further witnesses to be summoned by the Conservos.

,,,It is kind of obvious that the House inquiry contained testimony to get to the House impeachment vote and that the Demos would have to submit that testimony again at the ‘’’not a trial’’’ in the Senate...

Andrew McCarthy looks at both sides of the Burmisa arguments and allegations.

The Democrats’ Burisma Bait and Switch

“Moreover, the president was denied the right to have his counsel participate in the main investigative phase, run by Schiff. So, even though Schiff began the House hearings with an absurd parody version of the Trump–Zelensky conversation, falsely suggesting that Trump had asked Zelensky to “make up dirt” about Biden, the House denied the president the opportunity to prove that he was actually asking for help investigating activity that, objectively, appears quite suspicious and potentially corrupt.

Even if such an investigation would have helped Trump politically, it is a much different scenario if there was a real basis to believe the Bidens’ conduct should be scrutinized. Joe Biden is not immune from investigation just because he is running for president — certainly no more than the president himself is immune (which, obviously, he’s not).

The president has to be given an opportunity to prove his rebuttal case. A trial is not a trial, not in the American tradition, if prosecutors are permitted to level a serious accusation and then deny the accused the right to mount a defense.”

about my 1010a...as you can see Cipollone lied...but the Roundtable will believe anything Fox tells them...

Falsehood No. 1: Trump’s lawyers claimed Republicans didn’t have access to key information during House impeachment inquiry
As part of an effort to portray the process that resulted in Trump’s impeachment and trial as a partisan witch hunt, Cipollone at one point complained that “not even [House Intelligence Committee chair and impeachment manager Adam] Schiff’s Republican colleagues were allowed into the SCIF,” or Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, which is basically the secure facility that members of Congress used to review classified information pertinent to the impeachment inquiry.

This assertion is not true. As a number of reporters pointed out, not only did Republicans involved in the impeachment have access to the SCIF, but many of them also used it.

As part of a made-for-TV stunt, House Republicans did storm a SCIF in October to protest Democrats not providing Republicans who were otherwise uninvolved in the impeachment inquiry with access to closed-door depositions. However, Republicans who are members of one of the three committees involved in the process had the same access as Democrats.

When the trial resumed after a brief pause following Sekulow and Cipollone’s statements, Schiff noted that Cipollone made “a false statement” about access to the SCIF, saying, “I will tell you this: He’s mistaken. He’s mistaken ... [Republicans] got the same time we did.”

“You know, 28 hours of hearing the same thing over and over again isn’t all that exciting,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has passed the hours with crossword puzzles.”

I believe Senator Paul was referring to Odlaq’s posts on Rebane’s Ruminations! Yes, I believe we have finally made the nation press. Kudos to Dr. Rebane. And of course, we could not have done it without our Comma Man.

28 hours of hearing the same thing over and over again. What else could Eand been referring to

Politicians obviously are desired on corporate boards. They get those positions because of political influence.
US, foreign, it does not make a difference...
Manafort, Gates, Flynn were foreign agents dining on their political connections...

,,,your quid pro quo comparison is false,,,

Joe Biden this for that was US government business for corrupt Ukraine politicians to be removed.
Trump this for that was US government business for personal favor to smear Biden...big difference!!!

So, this is what Odlac was upset about. I watched a few minutes and the video (10 min) presented by the defense and it’s all public record. Yep, it that is the only direct eye witness to the phone all the Dems have.....ahnevermind , we have already covered this ground weeks before.

"You have to wonder how many Democratic senators spend the long hours of impeachment fantasizing how to end the misery of listening to Rep. Adam Schiff deliver the party’s funeral oration. Please God, hurl a lightning bolt at the podium… bring down a chunk of the fine old coffered ceiling where he stands and prates about a Russian invasion of Malibu… send a coral snake up the leg of his trousers…!

It was so bad that his California counterpart, Senator Dianne Feinstein, just up-and-split late Wednesday. Elizabeth Warren has been seen furiously doodling maps of all the primary precincts she is failing to visit in her confinement. Bernie Sanders imagines himself wielding thirty inches of re-bar upside Mr. Schiff’s skull, while Amy Klobuchar pops her third Xanax of the evening. You have no idea what mental tribulation the House impeachment manager supreme is visiting on his colleagues.

The impeachment case against Mr. Trump might mercifully spell the end of the Master Narrative the Democrats have been confabulating since 2016: that Donald Trump invited the wicked Vlad Putin to checkmate Hillary Clinton and thereby crushed the hopes and dreams of those wishing to make Ukraine the 51st state… or something like that. Because according to Mr. Schiff, there is no nation on this planet as dear to the interests of America than darling Ukraine, with its radioactive forests, decrepitating Soviet infrastructure, and dedication to liberty

'''KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine plans to fire the prosecutor who led investigations into the firm where Joe Biden's son served on the board, a central figure in the activity at the heart of impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump, a source told Reuters.

Didn't read it the first time? Or half way through a box of discount wine?
Hunter may be the ONLY witness. Remember? the Senate says who they want to hear. Third hand stooges need not show up,
And Trump throws the exec. privilege card. Not even the Senate can over-rule that.

Actually, I have so much confidence in the upcoming Acquittal Party (at the Miners Foundry perhaps?) that I can go with Lindsey Graham’s idea. No witnesses called as he and his committee of merry men will be certain to look into any corruption Joe Biden and Co may have engaged in. Think about it. Graham can drag his committee hearings out all summer and into the fall.

Me and the boys at the Bolshoy Dom have decided that we're bored with this silly impeachment thing. No time for witnesses, just vote and be done. Donald Frederickovich, on the speakerphone, seems to be of similar mind.

It's time to get back to the cage match between the crazy wild-haired Marxist, the midget billionaire, the irritating part-time law school professor, the creepy uncle, and the gay mayor. Vince McMahon couldn't have designed a better fight with a preordained outcome.

“The mainstream media now celebrate the Schiff variation on the Epimenides paradox in his closing remarks Thursday evening (video below): “If right doesn’t matter—if right doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter how good the Constitution is. It doesn’t matter how brilliant the Framers were,” he proclaimed. “Doesn’t matter how good or bad our advocacy in this trial is. Doesn’t matter how well written the oath of impartiality is. If right doesn’t matter, we’re lost. If the truth doesn’t matter, we’re lost.”

In the 'I don't know him maybe I took a picture with him, I take pictures with a lot of people' category: A 90 minute recording has emerged of trumpler talking with the person he doesn't know, Lev Parnas; you know, the guy who claims trumpler was in on the whole scheme to extort the President of Ukraine. The recording was made at a donor dinner where trumpler had this to say about the life long public servant and dedicated Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, "Get her out tomorrow. I don't care.....Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it."
During that discussion, Trump asks a person, Parnas, how long Ukraine would last in fight against Russia. Parnas replies "without us, not very long," and another person chimes in, "about 30 minutes." Parnas later says, "the biggest problem there I think, where you need to start, is we gotta get rid of the ambassador. She's still left over from the Clinton administration." A few months later, Trump would try to cut off military aid to Ukraine and fire the ambassador.

Just another brick in the wall of goombah, whether you want to believe it or not.

Trump wanted Marie Yovanovitch fired in April 2018, but she wasn’t given the boot until 13 months later in May of 2019. Plus, she lied in her testimony before the House Impeachment hearings....several times. It’s on record.
Oh my, little goombah, keep trying until you get something right. Best for you to post hourly temperatures in NC or something better suited for your skillset.

“The latest impeachment related story — a non-story in my view — is about a tape recording in which President Trump (according to reports) instructed associates to fire Marie Yovanovitch, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. The recording apparently was made at a dinner party in April 2018 by Igor Fruman, one of Rudy Giuliani’s main Ukraine operatives (along with Lev Parnas).

Yovanovitch wasn’t fired until May 2019. Thus, there is less to this story than meets the eye.

Nor did much meet the eye to begin with. According to reports, Trump demanded that Yovanovitch be fired after he heard she was bad mouthing the president in Ukraine. “Get rid of her” and “take her out” apparently was how he put it.

A president can fire an ambassador for any reason or no reason. If the ambassador is bad mouthing the president, that’s an excellent reason.”

We are Trump's robots?,, Works for me. Better than an Obamabot like you. Care to compare the state of the union under each?
Which one turned out better? Hows Trump's economy compared to your boy "O"'s? Tell us "O"('s) asswipe(r).

Now, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. We first have to hear two more days from the WH lawyers. After all, the WH lawyers were not allowed to speak at the House inquiry nor cross exam witnesses nor present a defense, vigorous or otherwise. Then the vote to see which, if any, witnesses are deemed necessary.

“If the Senate.......trial will be seen as just another step the Conservos are lurching towards an autocratic society...

Time will tell. Schiffilis’s audience has always been the far left, not R’s or the American voter in general who have tuned out. The Democrats are already laying the ground work (and laying it thick) to delegitimize the 2020 Election and come up with a boogie man (excuse) why they lost...if the Senate does not do what the House (Nadler, Nancy, and Schiffilis ) demands.

“Not going to help them at the ballot box...”. Well, that is a risk I would gladly take...judging solely by the Clown Car competition.. have a sneaky feeling that only certain witnesses are deemed suitable to the Democrats and Odlay, others must not be called to testify under any circumstances.

“If the Senate...”. And if bullfrogs could fly, they would not bump their rump on a stump.

There might be some witnesses called. Probably some of much interest.

WHERE’S WALDO WHISTLEBLOWER?

SCHIFF (tape): Yes, we would love to talk directly with the whistleblower.

Remarkably, it never enters the mind of the progressive that there may be tens of millions of Americans who have seen through the sham of the House impeachment circus, and consider it the duty of the Senate to now bring this sordid chapter of the country’s governance to a prudently rapid conclusion, given the “overwhelming evidence” to convict that the Dems, in solemn kabuki fashion, marched across the Capitol rotunda to the Senate chamber.

It is the duty of the Senate to call witnesses and obtain documents that will either prove or disprove the impeachment charges.
Anything less is a sham and a kangaroo court that is rigged to hide guilt, or so it would seem unless proven otherwise.
Of course, if you are a trumplican truth doesn't matter, just retaining power.

Everybody loves an activist President who does what they like, whether it's open borders/men-in-womens-restrooms/gifts for favored identity groups or border security/don't invade Syria/try to strike favorable trade deals.

We do have the additional icing of fighting for the life of Western Civilization this time around, which raises the ante. Generally, it's safest for people to stick with the one that brung 'em, which makes the sight of anti-EuroWhiteMales who themselves are members of that group one of the most pitiful things in my experience. They need to get going on their Latin homework.

“Remarkably, it never enters the mind of the progressive that there may be tens of millions of....”

Actually, Odlat’s comment was quite revealing. “ Not going to help them at the ballot box..”

Just shows that the entire Impeachment trail to the Left is solely about “the ballot box.” Nothing else matters to them. We, in contrast, see the Trail as an end in and off itself. We purse truth, blind justice, and fairness (no matter where the chips may fall), while they seek a thumb on the scale and winning at the ballot box.

We do not, in the overarching goal,, put the highest priority “at the ballot box” in this impeachment saga. Whether it hurts the R’s or not at the ballot box is of less import than the matter at hand.

Two different perspectives, two different goals, two different considerations. This is not to discount that impeachment is truly a political process, but rather it serves as a window into the Liberal mind.

GeorgeR: "this sordid chapter of the country’s governance to a prudently rapid conclusion"

That's my take.

You certainly can't blame Team Blue for giving it a shot, and you can expect the bar to be lower for impeachment from now on. Winning whatever they can in 2020 is the Prime Directive and devil take the hindmost.

I'd like to see about a day's worth of legal argument by the defense, a quick acquittal, and on to the real business...getting the Justice Department to bring the folks in the attempted coup to trial. Spend your energy budget on that. I don't much care about Junior Biden's grift and his obvious help from dad (like I don't care about Monica Lewinsky), but those folks in the Blue Mob cells at the three letter agencies need some serious time on the rack for anything illegal they have done. The entry of the intelligence and federal police agencies into selecting Presidents really can't be allowed.

‘’’We, in contrast, see the Trail as an end in and off itself. We purse truth, blind justice, and fairness (no matter where the chips may fall)’’’...sure Bill,,,that is why you don’t want witnesses or documents...

What a crock Bill...your ilk are legends in their own mind...

‘’’ the Trail as an end in and off itself’’’...Yes, the end of the Trail for Trump,lol!!!

The end Trump's trail is 5 years from now Dung.
The Jr. takes over.
Like I told the Buzzard of Broad St.. Your chances of seeing another Commiecrat elected are slim and none. The worms will have ate somewhat well by then.

What a crock Bill...your ilk are legends in their own mind...”. —Comma Man

Well, Odlap, you can pound your spoon and throw your food and have a temper tantrum till the cows come home for all I care. If you have a beef about documents and witnesses, take it up with the House that Pelosi built. The House Intelligence Committee and the House Judiciary Committee did not send needed documents of witnesses called prior to marching the Articles of Impeachment (2) over to the Senate. They were in such a rush because they only had eyes on the calendar, not justice, not making their case.
If they really cared solely about impeachment, the House would have done their due diligence first and foremost and been through and complete. But, noooooo.

What were the Dems hiding? Why do they oppose the Bidens and Schiff from testifying? If the Dems are so interested in making the truth known, why are they shielding witnesses such as the whistleblower? What are the Dems hiding? Why did there send over incomplete homework to be graded by the Senate? What are the Dems hiding?

Love it when you get in your high chair and demand to get what you want. Why the rush? What, are you blaming the US Senate for the House’s failure...a House controlled by your beloved Far Left jism stains? Why did they fail to take impeachment seriously and turned in a half-ass report? Why, why, why?

To repeat, what the Dems call Obstruction of Congress is what the Constitution calls Separation of Powers. Why are the Dems hiding Biden’s Ukrainian corruption from the American voter? Why are they hiding Biden’s Quid pro Quo Joe from the sunlight of the truth? What are they afraid of? Why, why, why. Did the dog eat Schiffilis homework?

Oh my, this will hurt the R’s at the ballot box. Newsflash Odlav: Biden is already wounded by the Dem’s race to impeachment. Crack smoking, coke snorting, stripper impregnating, deadbeat Dad screwing his dead brother’s wife Hunter Biden might...just might....be equated to Hillary’s e-mails in the 2016 election. You guys did a great job of hurting Sleepy Joe all by yourselves ROFLMAO. Whose great idea was that???

“Corn pop was a bad dude, man.” “We seek truth, not facts”—Joe Biden on the impeachment trail and his world viewpoint.

Kindergarten baby born in the gravy. Now, Odlaj, I want you to huff and puff and blow the House down.

Whistleblowers are supposed to be protected,,,unless the Conservos don’t like it directed at them...
So Trump’s shitstain of a son is trying to out him...

#suchadouche

“””Will the whistleblower’s identity be kept a secret?

The president told reporters he is “trying to find out” the identity of the whistleblower. Ultimately, there’s nothing that can block Trump from revealing who he or she is, said Bradley Moss, a whistleblower attorney who specializes in national security. However, the law explicitly tasks the president with enforcing protections against retaliation.

“It is patently offensive and insulting to whistleblowers to have the president talking about how he is going to out this person, how he is going to confront this person,” Moss said. “No matter who is in the Oval Office … the need for whistleblowers to be able to raise their concerns with confidentiality and anonymity is critical.”

What is unique about the Trump whistleblower complaint?

This is the first time a credible whistleblower case has involved the president. Now, the president is publicly criticizing a person he is mandated by law to protect. Questions also remain about the executive privilege and the president’s ability to stymie ongoing investigations against him.’’’

“comma-man ",,,What the difference between the obstruction by the Senate and a Russian sham trial or election???"

,,,What the difference between the impeachment by the House and a Russian sham trial or election???”

Hmmm. Well, we already had our Russian Sham trial in the court of public opinion. Rachel Maddcow put her career on the line for it and many reporters and countless talking heads jumped in with both feet, journalistic standards be damned. Unfortunately, the Mueller Report threw a monkey wrench in the gears of that sham trial.

Still, the Russian Sham Trail continues unabated. “Show me the man and I will show you the crime.” —Commie Bastards.

Now Odlax is accusing the US Senate of obstructing Justice before the opening statements are completed. Yes, a window into the liberal mind. Big window.

Please, oh please Odlaz, tell us all how the US Senate is obstructing something. Enlighten us. Just because you say it does not make it true. Stick with giving hourly weather reports.

We strongly disagree. The whistleblower is this case is not a statutory employee and it is up to the ICIG to protect his idenity with some exceptions.

Yes, he is protected against retaliation from his department, i.e, demotions, firing, not receiving warranted raises, hostile work environment, etc. The whistleblower statue does not protect him/her from the press, Congress, or even guarantee his/her anonymity..

While the trolls regurgitate the socialist dem sputum back in the real world its the economy stupid's! -

A Fox News poll shows that the 20 percent of Americans who rated the United States economy as excellent is up 17 percent from what it was during the last month of the Obama administration (December 2016) when only three percent gave it that rating.

And that 20 percent is up from 14 percent in October, despite the Democrats ongoing impeachment effort against President Donald Trump.

Moreover, the poll shows that 55 percent of American voters give the economy the highest rating in almost 20 years and they believe Trump is responsible for it.

The last time the poll found a higher percentage of those who rated the economy as excellent or good was in January 2001, when 59 percent gave it that rating.

“During his Friday presentation, Schiff tried to shame Republicans by playing a clip of the late Sen. John McCain talking about the threat that a democratic Ukraine posed to Putin’s vision for the region. Yet he neglected to show the speech in which McCain described the Russian takeover of Crimea as “the ultimate result” of Obama’s “feckless foreign policy where nobody believes in America’s strength anymore.”

When Russia first invaded Ukraine in March 2014, Schiff tried to deflect blame away from the Obama administration and onto the intelligence community. That same month, the California congressman cautioned against a tough response to Russia's aggression, warning that "the challenge is, we do need to have some kind of working relationship with Russia. And while we can impose these costs and take these steps, we’ve got to be mindful of the fact that they can impose their own costs on us."

I remember some journalist tried to quantify how many Ukrainians were killed/injured due to their military aide being withheld by the Trump Administration. The researcher checked hospital records, talked to military commanders, through out sprained ankles and heart attacks and bumping your head and non enemy caused mishaps like car wrecks. What was found and verified was an hand grenade attack on the entrance to an apartment building, killing two. Another grenade attack wounded 2-3, assailant unknown.

So, let’s keep to the evidence before crying in the Union or here that people were killed because of the delay of military aid. Not sure if protective vests would save you from a grenade exploding 6” away.

But I thought it was all about impeaching Trump for his high crimes, misdemeanors and being a direct threat to our National Security, Democracy, and the existence of Planet Earth. And interfering in our elections (past and future), burying evidence, and, of course, protecting the insidious bureaucratic state that knows better than us lowly voters. Opps, I forgot to mention it’s all about defeating Trump in 2020 and, if not, taking back the US Senate as the grand prize.

Silly me. I did not realize that Ukrainian aid does not matter and the only thing that matters is sullying Biden’s good name and impeccable unassailable character. Thanks for setting me straight and moving the goal posts.

Stupid me. And here I thunk wrongly that’s it was all about Ukraine (abuse of,power) and the ensuing Obstruction of Congress. I have a broken thinker.

Gee wheeze, and I am such a dunderhead that I almost believed this whole impeachment thang was the Dems trying interfere in an US election, just like they did in 2016 hiring Russian agents to getting the favor of dirt on Trump.

,,,yes Bill at 103p,,,asking a foreign nation to make false allegations about a political rival in an upcoming election by withholding US approved funds as a carrot for the favor is just like something that LowLife Trump would do...